ANTH286 - 2012 & THE ANCIENT MAYA

Did the Maya predict the end of the world in 2012? This course will answer this question as it traces the growth of Maya civilization (ca. 1000 BCE to 1500 CE), from its origins to the development of centralized states ruled by royal dynasties in urban capitals with monumental architecture, mass production of goods, writing, and sophisticated artistic traditions. With the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphs we know far more about Maya politics, economy, warfare, and religion, along with the basis for recent predictions of the apocalypse. Knowledge of the Maya past allows us to better understanding the processes inherent in the evolution of all human societies, and is crucial to understanding today's Maya people who live in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and the USA.